Mosquito Spraying Smacks of Patronage

Published: May 9, 2004

For several years the only mosquito-caused deaths here were from the West Nile virus. In 2003 it caused two deaths. By now almost all county residents have been bitten by mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus. Most exhibited few if any symptoms, but the resulting antibodies they now carry make them immune.

Nevertheless, the county mosquito control program continues to cost taxpayers several million dollars each year.

Funds redirected from mosquito control to programs for reducing death by traffic accidents, physical assaults, food poisoning, etc. would produce more bang for the buck.

Sadly, the entrenched old-boy network will not permit loss of soft political patronage jobs, even to save lives.